By Paul Gorostiola Midland Beach Rising seas more rain and floods, disasters in the making. The mayor and weather and climate experts are telling Staten Islanders not to build any homes on the coast line. Hurricane Sandy knocked us for a loop. So what do Staten Islanders do? They build a 625-foot Wheel next to a shoreline. This is... Full story »

By Richard Reichard West Brighton Eighty years ago, the Democrats under the leadership of President Franklin Roosevelt created the Social Security system. Three years later, President Roosevelt and the Democrats passed the Fair Labor Standards Act, which set a minimum hourly wage and a maximum workweek. Fifty years ago, President Johnson and the Democrats created Medicare. While 84 percent... Full story »

By Alma Lola Braisted West Brighton In recent weeks, the Advance has published articles on issues related to people with developmental disabilities. Two pieces described the Willowbrook State School and the role of parents advocating for better care for their children. One article reported on a much-appreciated respite house presently serving people with autism, and an Op-Ed letter from... Full story »

By Sonny Tannenbaum South Beach Now that Democratic candidate Vincent Gentile has been selected by his party to run for Grimm's congressional seat, he hasn't wasted anytime at all in slinging mud at Republican candidate Daniel Donovan. All Gentile is doing, is showing his true character and pandering to the Garner family in hope of votes and support from... Full story »

By Angela Tirone Port Richmond "Fifty Shades of Grey" with all its kinky sex, s-and-m, pornographic scenes: You can have it - garbage. Try the dignity of good old romance. Nothing is more beautiful than being tender and charmed by one you love. You just can feel the love in those old songs.The one song comes to mind, "Unchained... Full story »

By Anthony Sagona New Dorp My name was randomly selected as the grand prize winner of The Bag Wags contest sponsored by the Advance. As the winner. I received a Super Bowl party for 25 people held at the Hilton Garden's Inn's Above. The Above is a very nice place, including the food and the staff, who worked the... Full story »

By Ingrid Ebanks West Brighton On Friday, Feb 20, I left my house at 8:30 a,m.,+- returning home from having dinner at Nucci's restaurant around 8:40 p.m. to the dreadful sound of pouring water hitting the floor. As I stepped into the house there was water pouring from every light fixture on the first floor of my new home.... Full story »

By Judith Trotsky Stapleton Traffic lights on Staten Island streets go from green to yellow to red in seconds. Cameras are there to record the "violation." Drivers here have to pay for tickets and increases in insurance costs. The city needs money. They are getting it through this sneak-a-tax. Full story »

By Murray Brand Castelton Corners For Israel, with just one bomb, Iran can do to the Jews in 12 minutes what Hitler did in 12 years. Israel is the one nation whose existence is most threatened by Iran. Understand this and you understand why the Israelis are so alarmed by the deal President Obama is trying to strike with... Full story »

By Tom Christian Port Richmond I am writing to inform you of the current parking situation at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. I wanted to apply for a one-month parking pass in December in order to ensure I would have a parking space during the construction of the Harbor Commons project for the remaining month I was to be... Full story »

By Thomas Mannix Annadale I will not mention his name as his alleged crime deserves that he is best forgotten. He took the time and effort to desecrate multiple works of art across our Island and targeted the American flag murals painted by Scott LoBaido. The damage at last count was 13 attacks against our community. Congratulations to the... Full story »

By Thomas Bell Arden Heights Long overdue raises are needed. Unfortunately, prices will rise, as the owners will not absorb these expenses. The public may not tip as well as they did previously. But then some people either did not tip or were poor tippers to begin with. Waitresses and waiters, etc., are usually hard workers, let's not penalize... Full story »

By Al Holtje Concord We can no longer ignore the negative spiral of our civilization. Political instability and economic insecurity have both breached the firewall of reason. The consequences of our failure to work for the common good, will almost certainly lead to chaos. I believe it's important that each and every American come to terms with the current... Full story »

By Anthony Sagona New Dorp My name was randomly chosen as the grand prize winner of the Bag Wags Contest sponsored by the Advance. The grand prize was a Super Bowl party for up to 25 people at the Hilton Garden Inn's Above space. The Above is a very nice place, including the food and staff assigned to work... Full story »

By Gerry Spinetta Concord All too often we hear of stories that are depressing. I would like to share an uplifting story. It's about wonderful, caring people who are neighbors of ours. It's a store on Richmond Road called Pastosa Ravioli. Without being asked every winter, when we have snow, this neighbor clears our sidewalk, our steps right up... Full story »

By Allen Posecznick Pleasant Plains Why do people now have to work for stores with express self-service lanes? You have to scan it, bag it and pay for it,fewer so there are fewer employees to have in the store to serve you. Now if only corporations can get customers to unload the trucks and stock the shelves they will... Full story »

By Vincent Romeo Great Kills When February ends, the monthly average temperature will be very close to 24 degrees which will be about 11 degrees below normal. That's in Manhattan. Here on Staten Island, with all the snow cover, there were nights when the temperature was 10 to 12 degrees colder than Manhattan and 4 to 8 degrees colder... Full story »